NAM is the official provider of online scientific reporting for the
8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment
and Prevention (IAS 2015), which will take place in Vancouver, Canada,
19th-22nd July 2015.

Nutrition

Michael Carter, Selina Corkery

Good
nutrition is important for everyone’s health. Nutrition plays an important role
in the health of the immune system and its ability to fight infections. Healthy
eating also helps you become and stay a healthy weight, and can help reduce the
risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis.

Having
HIV is unlikely to mean that that you have to make any drastic changes to your
diet – your existing diet will probably meet all your nutritional needs. However,
it is important to get enough nutrients to help you stay well. Good nutrition
is important during the time before you start HIV treatment. It is also an
important part of helping anti-HIV drugs work as well as possible once you are
taking them.

If you are taking anti-HIV drugs it is important to
eat a healthy, balanced diet, as HIV medication can cause changes to the way
the body metabolises some fats and sugars.

A
good diet will consist of a balance of the following items:

Starchy
food such as
bread, cassava, cereals, green banana, millet, maize meal, potatoes, pasta,
rice, and yam. Starchy foods should form the basis of your diet (about a third
of all the food you eat each day). They will provide carbohydrates for energy
as well as vitamins, minerals and fibre. Wholegrain versions of rice, pasta and bread contain
more fibre and often more vitamins and minerals as well.

Fruit
and vegetables
provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Try to eat five or more portions a day. A
portion is about 80g, or equal to:

a medium-sized piece of fruit (such as an apple, pear or orange)

two small pieces of fruit (such as a satsuma or a plum)

a large slice of a larger fruit (such as a pineapple)

three heaped tablespoons of vegetables

three heaped tablespoons of beans or pulses (only one portion of these
counts towards your five a day)

a small glass of fruit juice or a handful of dried fruit. (Juice only
counts as one portion even if you drink more than one glass.)

Frozen
and tinned fruit and vegetables count towards your five a day. Fruit
and vegetables can help protect against certain cancers and heart disease. They
are low in fat, so increasing the proportion of your diet made up of them is
helpful if you are trying to lose weight.

Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, provide vitamins,
minerals and especially calcium. Some dairy foods are high in saturated fats,
so should only be eaten in small quantities, or you could eat lower-fat
versions of milk, cheese and yoghurt. If you cannot tolerate milk, then fortified
soya, rice or oat milk, dark green leafy vegetables, dried figs, apricots and
nuts are all good sources of calcium.

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts
provide protein, minerals and vitamins (particularly B12 from meat). Around 15%
of your food intake should be from protein-rich food each day, or two portions
a day. Try to eat two portions of fish a week, including at least one portion
of oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel or tinned salmon.

Fats
from cooking oils, butter and margarine, meat and other protein-based foods
provide energy, essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K). Try
to eat ‘unsaturated’ fats, such as those found in oily fish, nuts and seeds,
avocados, olive oils and vegetable oils. The ‘saturated’ fats, found in meat,
cheese, butter and many processed foods can raise cholesterol. These should
only be eaten in small amounts.

Food and drinks high in fat or sugar should only
be a small part of your diet. Too much of most sorts of
food – but especially fats and sugars – can lead to unhealthy weight gain. See Maintaining a healthy weight for more
information.

Salt and salty foods can lead to high blood pressure,
if eaten in large amounts, and this can increase the possibility of having a
stroke or developing heart disease. Adults and children over eleven should eat
no more than six grams of salt a day, and younger children less.

Some foods are high in salt (for example, bacon,
cheese, anchovies, gravy granules and stock cubes, ham, prawns, salami, salted
and dry-roasted nuts, smoked meat and fish, salt fish, olives, soy sauce and
yeast extract). Try to eat these less often or in smaller amounts.

Bread and breakfast cereals can add a lot of salt to
your diet, especially if you eat a lot of them. Where possible, check the
labels of foods such as sauces and dressings, breakfast cereals, crisps and
tinned foods and choose varieties with lower levels of salt and sugar.

Reduce the amount of salt you use in cooking. You
could use more spices, fresh herbs, garlic and lemon to add flavour, for
example.

Ready-made meals and other convenience foods are often
high in salt, sugar and fat. Eating these too often can make it hard to have a
healthy and balanced diet.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.